Nailless cleated container



May 19, 1959 MaOKENZlE j 2,887,241 r v v NAILLESS CLEATED CONTAINERFiled-Aug. 11, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 {W ATTORNEYS y 1959 J. R.-MKENZlE 2,887,241

NAILLESS CLEATED CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1955 v I P 1.huHw lllllll 41!. \N W H m w l l k IIIII LHH 5 m x m\ ATTD RN 5Y5 UnitedStates Patent NAILLESS CLEATED CONTAINER Jack R. MacKenzie,Bellefontaine, Ohio Application August 11, 1955, Serial No. 527,767

1 Claim. (Cl. 217-12) This invention relates to packing and shippingcartons and containers, such as used for refrigerators and similarmerchandise, and in particular, a container, including reinforced panelswith flaps having cleats on edges thereof extended from base and coverpanels wherein the cleats of the flaps are adapted to be retainedbetween cleats on side, front, and rear panels with wires or straps andwherein the container, which is sealed and dustproof, is adapted tosupport a similar container with an appliance therein.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a container particularlyadapted for storing and shipping heavy merchandise in which the partsare secured together with out nails, screws and the like whereby thecontainer is readily assembled around a piece of merchandise and alsoreadily removed therefrom.

Various types of shipping cartons and containers have been provided forpackaging heavy merchandise, such as refrigerators and the like,however, corrugated paperboard is not suflicient to carry the load of asuperimposed container with merchandise therein and where reinforcingcleats or strips are used nails are driven into the edges for retainingthe parts in assembled relation and as the time provided for drivingnails in such containers is limited the nails often glance off from thesides and the hands of workmen handling the containers are often injuredand clothing of the workmen damaged by protruding ends of nails.Furthermore considerable time is lost in extracting nails for removingcontainers from merchandise and in this operation the containers aredestroyed. With these thoughts in mind, this invention contemplatesreinforced shipping containers in which parts are retained in nestedrelation with wires or bands extended around the containers whereby thecontainers are readily assembled and wherein upon cutting the wires orbands the panels of the containers are readily removed.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forminga container for heavy merchandise whereby the container is readilyassembled and also readily removed from the merchandise without the useof hammers, screwdrivers or other similar tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforced panelcontainer for packaging heavy merchandisc in which the top or cover ofthe container is provided with exterior cleats such as providing apallet effect which permits stacking of additional units withconventional mechanical equipment and without damag-. ing the units.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforced panelcontainer for merchandise in which the container has sufficient strengthto carry additional containers with merchandise therein.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a storing andshipping container adapted to be assembled with panels having cleatsthereon in which the panels with the cleats are adapted to be nested ina compartively small space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a storage and shippingcontainer including panels reinforced with wood strips in which thecontainer is adapted to be assembled as used. j

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shippingcontainer including panels reinforced with wood strips in which thecontainer is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionembodies a container having side walls, a front, a back, a base and acover in which the parts are formed with panels having reinforcingstrips particularly on edges thereof and interlocking flaps whereby theparts are adapted to be retained in assembled relation throughout a unitwith bands of material and wherein the parts substantially fall apart asthe bands are broken.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description, taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a side and rear wallassembled on a base and also illustrating the position of a cover beforethe cover is assembled on the parts. i

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the container" showing the partsassembled in full lines and showing flaps with meshing cleats thereonextended from edges of the base and cover in partly open positions inbroken lines.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the container taken from a pointat a right angle to that shown in Figure 2 showing the parts assembled.a 1

Figure 4 is a sectional plan through the carton or container taken online 4-4 of Figure 3 also showing .an exploded view in which one of theside walls is separated from the assembly.

Figure 5 is a detail showinga spring clip for retainin the parts inassembled relation as the container is assemb'led. t

Figure 6 is a sectional planthrough the spring clip shown in Figure 5showing the clip secured to a cleat on one edge of a panel.

Figure 7 is a view showing a spring clip, similar to that shown inFigure 5, illustrating a modification wherein prongs are struck from theextended end of the clip for insuring the clip remaining in position ona panel.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan through the clip shown in Figure 7 beingtaken on line 8-8 thereof.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the bottom or base of the container showing amodification wherein flaps with cleats thereon are provided only at thesides of the container.

FigurelO is a plan view of the base of the container, with parts brokenaway, illustrating a base with short cleats on edges of the flaps of thecontainer.

Figure 11 is a plan view similar to that shown in Figure 10, showing theuse of a short single cleat positioned in the center of a flap. 1

Figure 12 is a vertical longitudinal section through the container withparts broken away.

Figure 13 shows another modification wherein spring clips are providedat points midway of the height of the container.

Figure 14 is a cross section through a lower corner of the containershowing a wire extended around the locking elements of an end of thecontainer.

The panels are formed of sheets of corrugated material, solidfibreboard, plywood, plastic or other suitable material and cleats ofwood or other suitable material are positioned on and secured to edgesthereof and also to points intermediate of the edges by stitches, nails,glue, or by other suitable means. i

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts, the improved packass-mam ing and shipping carton orcontainer of this invention includes a base panel 10, a cover panel 11,side panels 12 and 13, a rear panel or back 14, and a front panel 15and, i

in assembling the container, an article, :such as .a refrigerator isplaced uponbeams 16 and 17011 the upper surface-softhe base 10 and withthe side panels or walls 12 and 13 and rear panel or wall 14 assembled,as shown inFigure 4, these three panels are placed over therefrigerator'or the like and the front ,panel 15 inserted to closethecontainer, at the front.

The walls are retained in assembled relation by the spring clipsillustrated in Figures to .7 to facilitate positioning theelementsaround the article and after the sides, front,-and back areassembled cleats 18 on flaps 19 extended :from sides of the base arepressed in between verticallydisposed-cleats 20 and21 of the .panel 12and 22 and 23 of the panel 13, the cleats 18 extending over cleats 24and 25 'on the lower edges of the panels 12 and 13. Similarcleats 26 onflaps 27, similar to the flaps 19, are nested in between cleats 28 and29 on the lower edge of the rear panel 14 and cleats 30 and 31 on thelower edge of the front panel 15. The cleats 26 fit snugly between thecleats 30 and 31 and extend over cleats 32 and 33 on lower edges of theback 14 and front 15.

The base of the container includes the panel with flaps 19 at the sideson the edges of which the cleats 13 aregpositioned, a flap 27 at therear on which the cleat 26 is positioned and a similar flap 27 at thefront on which another of the cleats 26 is positioned. The beams .16 and17 are'positioned upon the upper surface of the panel 10.

The side 12 includes a panel with the cleats 2d and 2-1 at the edges, acleat -24'on the lower edge, a cleat 34 on the upper edge andanintermediate horizontally disposed cleat 35. The opposite side includesthe panel 13 with the-cleats 22 and .23 at theedges, the cleat 25 on thelower edge, 'a-cleat .36 extended across the upper edge and anintermediate horizontally disposed cleat 37 similar to the cleat 35.

The rearwall includes the panel 14 with the cleats 28 and 29 at theedges, the cleat 33 extended across .the lower edge, a cleat 38 extendedacross the upper edge and a horizontally disposed intermediate cleat 39.The front includes the panel with the cleats 30 and 31 at the edges, thecleat 32 on the lower edge and a corresponding cleat 40 'on the upperedge. The panel .15 is also 'provided'with an intermediate horizontallydisposed cleat, as :indicated by the numeral 41. It will be understoodthat as many of the intermediate cleats may be used as may .be desiredand the intermediate cleats may be positioned horizontally or verticallydepending upon the merchandise carried in the container.

Ilhetb'ase includesthe panel 10 with the flaps 19 having the cleats 18thereon at the-sides, the 'flaps 27 with the cleats 26 thereon at thefront and back, the beams 16 and 17 on the upper surface and skids 42and 43 on the lower surface.

Articles of merchandise, such as refrigerators, washing machines, andthe like may rest upon the beams 16 and 17 or the merchandise may besecured to the beams such -as by bolts or other fastening means. Thecover 11 includes a panel similar to the panel 10 with flaps 44 and 45having cleats 46 thereon at the sides and flaps 4-7 and 48 with cleats49 and 50, respectively, thereon and the upper surface is provided witha plurality of cleats, as indicated by the numeral 51. It will beunderstood that .as many of the cleats 51 may be provided on the uppersurface of the panel 11 as may be required to carry loads ofsuperimposed units.

It will be understood thatithe flaps, such as the flaps 19 withthe=cleats 18 or the flaps 26 with thecleats 27, may .be provided onlyat the sides 'or only at the ends instead of at both the :sides and endsas shown in Figure 1.

To facilitate assembling the container, spring clips, as illustrated inFigures 5, 6, 7 and 8, maybe provided and, as shown in Figure 1, spacedelements or plates 52 with prongs 53 and 54 extended from inner edgesare positioned against the panel 14 with the prongs pressed into thepanel and U-shaped sections having arms 55 and 56 connected by a back 57are adapted to receive edges of adjoining panels, such as the panels 12and 13, whereby the panels are readily held in position at the sides ofthe back as the three pieces or walls are moved over an article, such asa refrigerator. The arm 55 is connected to the base 'plate 52 with atongue 58. The arms 55 and 56 are adapted to be pressed togetherslightly to frictionally grip inner surfaces of the panels 12 and 13 andouter surfaces -of the cleats on the edges of the panels and inassembling the device the two sides and back slide over the'merchandiseand with these parts in position the front is placed against edges ofthe sides and the cleats 26 and 49 pressed between the cleats at thesides of the front for retaining the front in position. The cover may beapplied immediately although it will be understood that the cleat27 onthe flap 26 of the base will be sufficient to retain the front inposition as the cover is applied to the upper end of the container.

With the parts assembled, wires, such as the wire 59, shown in Figure13,, orbands may be placed around upper and lower ends of the containerand also at intermediate points to positively retain the elements inassembled or upright positions.

In the modifications illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, spring clips havingbase plates 61; with prongs 61 thereon having U-s'haped elements 62extended from'tongues 63 are provided with prongs 64 which extendinwardly from the outer arm of the .U-shaped element 62 to facilitateretaining the side walls or other adjoining walls in position.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 9, a base panel 65, similar tothe panel '10,.isprovided with side flaps 66 and 67 having cleats 68 and69, respectively, thereon and the upper surface of the base is providedwith beams 70 and 71. With three walls of a container positioned againstouter surfaces and ends of the beams 7i and 71 the cleats 68 and 69 arepressed in between the cleats at theedges of the side panels whereby thewalls are secured in .position upon the base 65 until wires or bands areapplied thereto. The base panel 65 is also provided with skids 72 and 73to facilitate transportation and storage of the container.

In the design shown in Figure 10, a base panel '74 is provided with endflaps v75 having short cleats 76 and 77 thereon and the base panel ismounted upon skids 78. The outer ends 79 and 8d are positioned similarto the ends of the cleats 18 and 26 whereby with the flaps '75 .foldedupwardly against side surfaces of a container the cleats 76 and 77 are.forced in between vertically disposed cleats on edges of the sidewalls.

In the design illustrated in Figure 11, a single cleat 81 is provided onaflap 82at the end of a base panel 83 and the base panel, which ismounted on skids 84, is provided with transverselydisposed beams 85 and36.

Similar beams 87 are provided on the upper surface of the panel 74 ofthe design shown in Figure 10.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate that the cleats, such as the cleat s 18 and26 of the base 10 shown in Figure 1 or the cleats 76 and 77 of the baseshown in Figure 10 or the cleats 81.of the baseshown in Figure 11, areadapted to be formed of waste material whereby one, two, or any suitablenumber of cleats may be provided on flaps, as may be desired.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 13, one of the spring clips'56 is used in the center of the container instead of providing a clip,such as the clip 87, positioned in the upper end of the container, asshown in Figure 2, or a .clip 88 spaced from the lower end of thecontainer. The clip 561's positioned against an end cleat, such as thecleat 22, and it will be understood that as many spring clips maybe usedas may be desired. The clip 56 shown in Figure 13 is positioned at acornerof a wall, such as the wall 89, the clip being positioned againsta cleat 90, and the cleat being mounted in registering relation withintermediate horizontally disposed cleats 91.

The shipping and storing carton or container of this invention is,therefore, relatively flexible in that the panels of the walls, base,and cover may be formed of corrugated paper, plastic, or other suitablematerials and the cleats maybe provided only at the edges or at theedges and also at intermediate points whereby the combination of thematerial of the panels and cleats provides load bearing elements so thatcomparatively heavy merchandise is adapted to be packed and stored withone unit above another and with as many units as may be desired abovethe base or lower units.

The cleats are also adapted to be secured to the panels with stitching,adhesive, or diiferent forms of staples and with the parts assembledaround an article of merchandise bands or wires are stretched around theassembly whereby the parts are retained in assembled relation inshipping and storing.

in assembling the containers around comparatively heavy merchandise,such as refrigerators and the like, the article is secured upon basebeams 16 and 17, such as by bolting, and with the device in position twoside walls and a back are moved over the device with the wallspositioned against sides and ends of the beams 16 and 17. With theseparts in position, the front is positioned against edges of the sidewalls and the parts are retained in position by pressing the cleats 18and 26 at the lower end and 46, 49, and 50 at the upper end in betweenvertically disposed cleats at the sides of the panels. With the parts inposition and before the cover is applied, packing is supplied around thesides, between the sides of the merchandise and inner surfaces of thecontainer and also upon the upper end of the merchandise whereby withthe cover applied and with the parts secured together by wires or bandsof material the device is adapted to be picked up with a crane, storedand shipped, as may be desired. The packing or cushioning materialprevents marring or scratching of sides of the merchandise and at thesame time centers the device in the container.

Although the assembly is described as including a back and two sidewalls preassembled, it will be understood that one, two, or any numberof the walls or panels may be preassembled and positioned around anarticle or device, as may be desired.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of theappended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a container, a base having skids on its under surface, a pair ofspaced parallel beams on the upper surface of the base, said containerfurther including spaced parallel side panels, and spaced parallel frontand rear panels, flaps on the edges of said base, cleats connected tosaid flaps, a cover having flaps on its edges, the flaps on said coverbeing provided with cleats, beams secured to the upper and lowersurfaces of said cover, said panels abutting the beams on the uppersurface of the base and also abutting the beams on the lower surface ofthe cover, vertically disposed and horizontally disposed cleats securedto said side, front and rear panels at the outer edges thereof; thecleats on the flaps of the base, and the cleats on the flaps of thecover engaging the horizontal cleats on the panels on the upper andlower sides respectively and extending between the vertical cleats onthe panels, spring clips connected to the edges of the panels forretaining meeting edges of the panels in assembled relation, and bandsencircling the panels and flaps for maintaining the cleats on the flapsin contact with the horizontal cleats on the panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,438,180 Jesdale Dec. 12, 1922 1,990,788 Kells Feb. 12, 1935 2,001,140Jordan May 14, 1935 2,538,204 Lemon Jan. 16, 1951 2,700,457 Munroe Jan.25, 1955 2,730,287 Mueller Jan. 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,849 GreatBritain 1909 167,987 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1921 550,191 France Dec. 7,1922

